Shrouded Noriega returns to Panama in a wheel chair

Panama’s former dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega returned to his home country on Sunday under world wide TV scrutiny,  shrouded by a blanket and seated in a wheel chair.

Demonstrators outside the Renacer  prison carried banners denouncing the former strong man, calling him “murderer” and demanding that he pay for his crimes.

A group of civilistas who opposed the dictarorship during his reign is were seen in a restaurant in the banking area the . They included Aurelio Barria, Charles Abbey, Sandra Escorcia, Cesar Tribaldos, and Eduardo Vallarino

 After watching  his arrival on local television the civilistas waved white flags (the previous symbol of resistance) and started hitting the glasses with spoons.

He was moved from the Iberian airlines plane that carried him from Paris, in a wheel chair with his head covered by a jacket.

Lawyers  in the group insisted that Noriega should pay for the crimes he committed during the military dictatorship. He has already served 22 years in prison in the US and France for drug smuggling and money laundering.  In Panama He was sentenced in absentia  to three 20 year terms for murders.

It is reported that Noriega  wishes to face trial to defend himself against the previous charges and against fresh murder charges. There are many in Panama’s political  and business circles who would not welcome him speaking out. Before becoming the de facto ruler of the country, he was head of intelligence and kept voluminous files on thousands of citizens.

During his time in power Noriega led a double life as an agent of the CIA while working with the Medellan Drug Cartel and its leader Pablo Escobar. He also funneled money and  arms to US backed “contras”  fighting left wing governments in Central America.

When he arrived at the Renacer prison in a convoy at after being taken by helicopter to a local military base, the 77-year old was again shrouded and moved away in  a wheel chair to the annoyance of local media who wanted to be sure that this was really the man that led to the Invasion in 1989. Noriega was accompanied on the flight by medical staff. He is reported to be frail and has suffered two strokes.

Meanwhile scores of thousands of Panamanians, many of them not even born when  the dictator held power, crowded Calle 50 and Avenida Balboa to watch the Christmas Parade which was getting into full stride as his plane touched down some 37 minutes late.